Aloha Elvelia, Our school uses the Houghton Mifflin curriculum for teaching reading. Although it may not be a perfect program it has helped me to figure out how to teach both strategies and skills for reading. THe program itself takes up a lot of time, however, I have been able to condense much of what is taught "separately" meaning, in different sections at different times of the morning, and bring them together in a way that makes sense. I do believe that the strategies are very, very important. I have seen poor "readers" who comprehend way more than those who read fluently. Unfortunately, because the less fluent have a more difficult time they aren't too fond of reading to begin with. As well, when you make mention of those students who do well on their tests, but really don't comprehend I see a similarity with our students who do, exceptionally, well on their benchmark tests, but when you give them test WITHOUT the four choice answers they do not do nearly as well. THis says something about what they are really learning or not. We teach test taking skills and help them to make educated guesses, so they do well on tests, right, but what about actually "knowing" the correct answer without help? Why do we give them choices? These types of tests have really caused me problems when it comes to grading. Parents and other teachers have a problem when MY tests scores contradict the multiple choice test scores. They say I am being, too, hard on my students. Am I? Am I expecting, too, much? When I was growing up I don't remember being given hints for answers when I was tested. Do we only want our students to grow up knowing how to be a good guesser or making "educated" choices? --- On Sat, 5/28/11, evelia cadet <[email protected]> wrote:
From: evelia cadet <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Reading strategies/skills question To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" <[email protected]> Date: Saturday, May 28, 2011, 5:50 PM Thank you all very much for your answers. They have been very helpful. Sent from my Windows Phone -----Original Message----- From: Kristine Peterson Sent: Saturday, May 28, 2011 11:00 AM To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Reading strategies/skills question > I am reading an incredible book by Lori Oczkus--Reciprocal teaching at > work K-12. You might check it out. Discussion of strategies, > especially predicting, clarifying, summarizing, and questioning. > Kris > > On May 28, 2011, at 8:19 AM, evelia cadet wrote: > >> >> This is my second year teaching and I love it. I teach reading in >> 4th grade and I've been researching about the best and most >> efficient ways to teach reading. At first I did not understand the >> difference between reading strategies and reading skills. >> Eventually I learned that the reading strategies equip the children >> to become good readers. On the other hand, the reading skills are >> abilities shown by good readers. I hope I am making sense. Please >> correct me if I am wrong. I am writing this email because I want to >> learn. >> >> Now, I have noticed that the reading teachers at my school place a >> lot of emphasis on the reading skills. When students come to me, >> they are able to figure out reading skills especially on a >> standarized test. However, they have not clue about reading >> strategies. They are not making connections, visualizing or >> questioning as they read, etc. >> I want my students to become good readers and love to read, no just >> to pass a test. >> >> So, here is my question (that was a long introduction), WHAT WOULD >> AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO TEACH MY STUDENTS THE READING STRATEGIES AND >> SKILLS? MAYBE TEACHING ALL THE STRATEGIES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE >> YEAR AND THEN MOVE TO THE SKILLS? OR TEACHING THEM BOTH >> SIMULTANEOUSLY? MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE? >> >> Any help would be appreciated. Thank you. >> >> Evelia >> >> >>> To: [email protected] >>> Date: Fri, 27 May 2011 18:18:05 -0400 >>> From: [email protected] >>> Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] boys and reading and political climate >>> >>> I feel so sorry for the teachers in Wisconsin until I remember that >>> I am a teacher in Florida...with a son going into third grade..UGH! >>> From, Mena >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Philomena Marinaccio-Eckel, Ph.D. >>> Florida Atlantic University >>> Dept. of Teaching and Learning >>> College of Education >>> 2912 College Ave. ES 214 >>> Davie, FL 33314 >>> Phone: 954-236-1070 >>> Fax: 954-236-1050 >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Margy Hillman <[email protected]> >>> To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group >>> <[email protected] >>> > >>> Sent: Fri, May 27, 2011 9:49 am >>> Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] boys and reading and political climate >>> >>> >>> a friend of mine sent me this link yesterday -- thought you might >>> be able to use >>> >>> it. >>> here's to fighting the good fight! >>> margy >>> >>> >>> Panel Finds Few Learning Gains From Testing Movement >>> http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/05/26/33academy.h30.html?tkn=WMZFS%2FW96v61G219atrR%2F52%2BF7dt13KpDqLj&cmp=clp-edweek >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> ________________________________ >>> From: Kay Kuenzl-Stenerson <[email protected]> >>> To: [email protected] >>> Sent: Fri, May 27, 2011 5:29:16 AM >>> Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] boys and reading and political climate >>> >>> Good Morning! I found *Reading Don't Fix No Chevys *an eye opening >>> book. >>> It is a study with High School students but it give a great >>> perspective on >>> boy's interests and their reading habits. Also, I am from Wisconsin >>> and we >>> are facing some disturbing legilations pushing more testing in 3rd >>> grade >>> modeled after Florida and of course the whole teacher - public >>> employee >>> bashing. I have started to pay a lot of attention to what is >>> happening and >>> gotten vocal. The only way to fight these ill informed bills is to >>> get as >>> much information as possible and to be vocal to the legilators, >>> with friends >>> and acquaintances who may not have access to information, and to >>> vote. This >>> won't go away unless teachers in the trenches who really know what >>> is at >>> stake speak up and fight. It has been a very tiring 4 months in >>> Wisconsin, >>> but I know our schools and students are at risk of losing out. It >>> may even >>> mean the end of public education as we know it. I urge all of you >>> to jump >>> in! >>> >>> On Thu, May 26, 2011 at 11:00 AM, <[email protected] >>> >wrote: >>> >>>> Send Mosaic mailing list submissions to >>>> [email protected] >>>> >>>> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit >>>> >>>> http://mail.literacyworkshop.org/mailman/listinfo/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org >>>> >>>> or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to >>>> [email protected] >>>> >>>> You can reach the person managing the list at >>>> [email protected] >>>> >>>> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific >>>> than "Re: Contents of Mosaic digest..." >>>> >>>> >>>> Today's Topics: >>>> >>>> 1. Re: Billionaire's Boy's Clubs are financing "grassroots >>>> movements" (Sally Thomas) >>>> 2. Re: Your thoughts needed- (Renee) >>>> >>>> >>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> >>>> Message: 1 >>>> Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 13:07:33 -0700 >>>> From: Sally Thomas <[email protected]> >>>> To: mosaic listserve <[email protected]> >>>> Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Billionaire's Boy's Clubs are financing >>>> "grassroots movements" >>>> Message-ID: <ca02af95.701a%[email protected]> >>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII >>>> >>>> >>>> Thanks for posting this Mena. I know many teachers who are giving >>>> their >>>> all >>>> in classrooms, who have families who also need them. But then they >>>> don't >>>> exactly have time to keep up with this big picture of the coming >>>> storm. It >>>> takes time to listen/read it all. I know because I feel a great >>>> need to >>>> but >>>> I've been known as an extreme workaholic. Part of the issue is >>>> that I try >>>> to read aboutt issues from all sides, from many sources. I hate >>>> "sound >>>> bites" and don't want to be narrow minded myself. >>>> >>>> Susan Ohanian has been a long long time advocate for children and >>>> teachers >>>> and activists in keeping us informed about what is going on. Her >>>> web site >>>> is an incredible resource for all of su. >>>> >>>> Sally >>>> >>>> >>>> On 5/25/11 6:49 AM, "Mena" <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> More on the Billionaire's Boy's Clubs and Gates >>>>> http://susanohanian.org/show_research.php?id=419 >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Philomena Marinaccio-Eckel, Ph.D. >>>>> Florida Atlantic University >>>>> Dept. of Teaching and Learning >>>>> College of Education >>>>> 2912 College Ave. ES 214 >>>>> Davie, FL 33314 >>>>> Phone: 954-236-1070 >>>>> Fax: 954-236-1050 >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ------------------------------ >>>> >>>> Message: 2 >>>> Date: Thu, 26 May 2011 07:46:36 -0700 >>>> From: Renee <[email protected]> >>>> To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" >>>> <[email protected]>, [email protected] >>>> Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] Your thoughts needed- >>>> Message-ID: <[email protected]> >>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed >>>> >>>> I tend to agree with Elisa on this and would also tend to leave him >>>> alone, AND I would "make available" other books with topics >>>> related to >>>> sharks if I happened to come along them. I wouldn't push them, just >>>> have them "visible" near the sharks books. For example, books about >>>> other fishes, or the ocean, or the food chain, whatever. >>>> >>>> And I might randomly ask him questions like "How are sharks like >>>> people?" or "Are there other fish who have to keep swimming or they >>>> will sink?" or whatever. Not push the questions, but just ask in an >>>> idle, offhand way. >>>> >>>> Renee >>>> >>>> On May 25, 2011, at 4:26 AM, [email protected] wrote: >>>> >>>>> Hi Judy, >>>>> Though it may be frustrating to have this child read only about >>>>> sharks >>>>> (running out of books he can read, thinking he needs to be prepared >>>>> for other reading demands in school) I would leave him alone. He is >>>>> developing expertise on a topic that he is passionate about. Why >>>>> squelch that? In time, he will develop other reading interests >>>>> and the >>>>> sharks will fall by the wayside. He is learning that reading is to >>>>> find out about things we are interested in and that's important. He >>>>> will hear other genres/topics when his teacher does read alouds. He >>>>> can have his mom read books to him about sharks that are a >>>>> stretch for >>>>> him right now. And, IMHO, we should never make an instructional >>>>> decision because of the perceived needs of the next grade level. >>>>> Would >>>>> this be an example of teaching to test for the next grade level? My >>>>> best advice, again, is to leave the boy alone. >>>>> Elisa >>>>> Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry >>>>> >>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>> From: judy fiene <[email protected]> >>>>> Sender: [email protected] >>>>> Date: Tue, 24 May 2011 08:44:04 >>>>> To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email >>>>> Group<[email protected]> >>>>> Reply-To: "Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group" >>>>> <[email protected]> >>>>> Subject: [MOSAIC] Your thoughts needed- >>>>> >>>>> Hi all, >>>>> I did a presentation last night for a PTA group. My focus was on >>>>> how >>>>> to get >>>>> your kids excited about reading. One mother had a question that >>>>> stumped me. >>>>> She stated that her eight year old son enjoys reading, but he's >>>>> very >>>>> specific about what he likes to read. He will only read books about >>>>> sharks. >>>>> He's been like this for a couple of years now. He can't seem to get >>>>> enough >>>>> books on this topic. She stated that the librarian at her local >>>>> library is >>>>> running out of book selections that are at his reading level. She >>>>> doesn't >>>>> want to squelch his passion for reading, but she also wants him >>>>> to be >>>>> prepared for books he may not want to read but needs to read for >>>>> school. I'm >>>>> curious to know your thoughts. >>>> >>>> >>>> "You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him to find it >>>> within himself." >>>> ~ Galileo >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ------------------------------ >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Mosaic mailing list >>>> [email protected] >>>> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >>>> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org >>>> . >>>> >>>> Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. >>>> >>>> End of Mosaic Digest, Vol 57, Issue 26 >>>> ************************************** >>>> >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> Kay Kuenzl-Stenerson >>> Literacy Coach >>> Merrill Middle School >>> >>> *"Good books, like good friends, are few and chosen; the more >>> select, the >>> more enjoyable." Louisa May Alcott* >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Mosaic mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >>> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org >>> . >>> >>> Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Mosaic mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >>> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org >>> . >>> >>> Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Mosaic mailing list >>> [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >>> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org >>> . >>> >>> Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Mosaic mailing list >> [email protected] >> To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to >> http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org >> . >> >> Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
